RESUMO

Aluminum and silicon are contaminants found in formulations used to prepare parenteral nutrition. Both elements are leached from glass containers, mainly during the heating cycle for sterilization. Insoluble and biologically inactive species of hydroxyaluminosilicates have been shown to form in solutions containing Al and Si. Therefore, this interaction may play an important role in protecting the body against Al toxicity. In this study, the bioavailability of Al in the presence of Si, calcium gluconate (Gluc.), and potassium phosphate (Phosf.) was investigated in rats. The rats were divided into 10 groups of 5 animals each: control, Al, Si, Al + Si, Gluc, Gluc + Al, Gluc + Al + Si, Phosf, Phosf + Al, and Phosf + Al + Si. The doses, consisting of 0.5 mg/kg/day Al and 2 mg/kg/day Si in the presence or absence of Gluc. or Phosf., were intraperitoneally administered for 3 months. Tissues were analyzed for Al and Si content. Al accumulated in the liver, kidneys, and bones, and the simultaneous administration of Si decreased Al accumulation in these tissues. The presence of Si reduced the amount of Al present by 72% in the liver, by 45% in the kidneys, and by 16% in bone. This effect was lees pronounced in the presence of parenteral nutrition compounds though. Si tissue accumulation was also observed, mainly when administered together with phosphate. These results suggest that Si may act as a protector against Al toxicity, by either reducing Al absorption or increasing its excretion, probably through hydroxyaluminosilicates formation. The presence of calcium gluconate and potassium phosphate decreases or inhibits this effect.

RESUMO

Rodents exhibit leptin resistance and high levels of prolactin/placental lactogens during pregnancy. A crosstalk between prolactin and leptin signaling has been proposed as a possible mechanism to explain the changes in energy balance during gestation. However, it remains unclear if specific neuronal populations co-express leptin and prolactin receptors. Therefore, our present study was undertaken to identify in the mouse brain prolactin-responsive cells that possibly express the leptin receptor (LepR). In addition, we assessed the leptin response in different brain nuclei of pregnant and nulliparous mice. We used a LepR-reporter mouse to visualize LepR-expressing cells with the tdTomato fluorescent protein. Prolactin-responsive cells were visualized with the immunohistochemical detection of the phosphorylated form of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-5 (pSTAT5-ir). Notably, many neurons that co-expressed tdTomato and pSTAT5-ir were observed in the medial preoptic area (MPA, 27-48% of tdTomato cells), the retrochiasmatic area (34-51%) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS, 16-24%) of prolactin-treated nulliparous mice, pregnant mice and prolactin-treated leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice. The arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (8-22%), the medial tuberal nucleus (11-15%) and the ventral premammillary nucleus (4-10%) showed smaller percentages of double-labeled cells among the groups. Other brain nuclei did not show significant percentages of neurons that co-expressed tdTomato and pSTAT5-ir. Late pregnant mice exhibited a reduced leptin response in the MPA and NTS when compared with nulliparous mice; however, a normal leptin response was observed in other brain nuclei. In conclusion, our findings shed light on how the brain integrates the information conveyed by leptin and prolactin. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that high levels of prolactin or placental lactogens during pregnancy may directly interfere with LepR signaling, possibly predisposing to leptin resistance.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Currently the use of phosphite as fungicide in agriculture or as a supplementary source of phosphorus (P) has been widespread, however little is known about its effects on phosphate nutrition of important crops such as bean plants. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar applied phosphite and phosphate on the growth and phosphated nutrition of the bean plant cultivated under low and adequate P supply conditions. The experiment was conducted in an entirely random layout, in factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 2, where two phosphate concentrations were combined in the nutrient solution (1.5 mg L-1 = low phosphorous and 20 mg L-1 = adequate phosphorous), three foliar application products: KH2PO3 (monobasic potassium phosphite), KH2PO4 (monobasic potassium phosphate) and KCl (potassium chloride) as control and two treatments referring to the number of applications (one application, at the appearance of the first trifoliolate leaf and two applications: one at the appearance of the first trifoliolate leaf and the other application at the pre-flowering), with four repetitions. Overall the dry matter, fosfatase activity, phosphorus content and phosphorus use efficiency was not were affected by the foliar application treatments. Under low readiness of that nutritient the application of foliar phosphite had a negative effect on these variables. It was concluded that foliar applied phosphite has a depressive effect on the growth of the bean plant under low supply of P. The foliar phosphite slightly affects the total concentration of P in the roots and shoots, especially under low P supply, and provides no changes in levels of soluble fractions of P in leaves under conditions of low or adequate supply this nutrient.(AU)

Atualmente o uso de fosfitos na agricultura como fungicida ou como fonte suplementar de fósforo (P) tem sido amplamente difundido; contudo, pouco se sabe sobre seus efeitos na nutrição fosfatada em culturas importantes como o feijoeiro. No presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do fosfito e do fosfato, aplicados via foliar, sobre o crescimento e a nutrição fosfatada do feijoeiro em condições de baixo e adequado suprimento de P. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 x 2, combinando-se duas concentrações de fosfato em solução nutritiva (1,5 mg L-1 = baixo fósforo e 20 mg L-1 = fósforo adequado), três produtos de aplicação foliar: KH2PO3 (fosfito monobásico de potássio), KH2PO4 (fosfato monobásico de potássio) e KCl (cloreto de potássio) como testemunha e dois tratamentos referentes ao número de aplicações (aplicação única, no surgimento do primeiro trifólio e duas aplicações: uma no surgimento do primeiro trifólio e a outra aplicação no pré-florescimento), com quatro repetições. Em geral, a produção de matéria seca, a atividade da fosfatase ácida, os teores e a eficiência de utilização de fósforo não foram afetados pelos tratamentos de aplicação foliar sob suprimento adequado de P. Sob baixa disponibilidade desse nutriente, a aplicação de fosfito foliar teve efeito negativo sobre estas variáveis. Conclui-se a aplicação foliar de fosfito, comparado ao fosfato, tem efeito depressivo sobre o crescimento do feijoeiro sob baixo suprimento de P. O fosfito via foliar pouco afeta os teores totais de P, tanto nas raízes quanto na parte aérea, especialmente sob baixo suprimento de P, assim como não proporciona modificações nos teores das frações solúveis de P nas folhas, em condições de baixo ou adequado suprimento desse nutriente.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Currently the use of phosphite as fungicide in agriculture or as a supplementary source of phosphorus (P) has been widespread, however little is known about its effects on phosphate nutrition of important crops such as bean plants. The present work aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar applied phosphite and phosphate on the growth and phosphated nutrition of the bean plant cultivated under low and adequate P supply conditions. The experiment was conducted in an entirely random layout, in factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 2, where two phosphate concentrations were combined in the nutrient solution (1.5 mg L-1 = low phosphorous and 20 mg L-1 = adequate phosphorous), three foliar application products: KH2PO3 (monobasic potassium phosphite), KH2PO4 (monobasic potassium phosphate) and KCl (potassium chloride) as control and two treatments referring to the number of applications (one application, at the appearance of the first trifoliolate leaf and two applications: one at the appearance of the first trifoliolate leaf and the other application at the pre-flowering), with four repetitions. Overall the dry matter, fosfatase activity, phosphorus content and phosphorus use efficiency was not were affected by the foliar application treatments. Under low readiness of that nutritient the application of foliar phosphite had a negative effect on these variables. It was concluded that foliar applied phosphite has a depressive effect on the growth of the bean plant under low supply of P. The foliar phosphite slightly affects the total concentration of P in the roots and shoots, especially under low P supply, and provides no changes in levels of soluble fractions of P in leaves under conditions of low or adequate supply this nutrient.

Atualmente o uso de fosfitos na agricultura como fungicida ou como fonte suplementar de fósforo (P) tem sido amplamente difundido; contudo, pouco se sabe sobre seus efeitos na nutrição fosfatada em culturas importantes como o feijoeiro. No presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do fosfito e do fosfato, aplicados via foliar, sobre o crescimento e a nutrição fosfatada do feijoeiro em condições de baixo e adequado suprimento de P. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 x 2, combinando-se duas concentrações de fosfato em solução nutritiva (1,5 mg L-1 = baixo fósforo e 20 mg L-1 = fósforo adequado), três produtos de aplicação foliar: KH2PO3 (fosfito monobásico de potássio), KH2PO4 (fosfato monobásico de potássio) e KCl (cloreto de potássio) como testemunha e dois tratamentos referentes ao número de aplicações (aplicação única, no surgimento do primeiro trifólio e duas aplicações: uma no surgimento do primeiro trifólio e a outra aplicação no pré-florescimento), com quatro repetições. Em geral, a produção de matéria seca, a atividade da fosfatase ácida, os teores e a eficiência de utilização de fósforo não foram afetados pelos tratamentos de aplicação foliar sob suprimento adequado de P. Sob baixa disponibilidade desse nutriente, a aplicação de fosfito foliar teve efeito negativo sobre estas variáveis. Conclui-se a aplicação foliar de fosfito, comparado ao fosfato, tem efeito depressivo sobre o crescimento do feijoeiro sob baixo suprimento de P. O fosfito via foliar pouco afeta os teores totais de P, tanto nas raízes quanto na parte aérea, especialmente sob baixo suprimento de P, assim como não proporciona modificações nos teores das frações solúveis de P nas folhas, em condições de baixo ou adequado suprimento desse nutriente.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The mitochondrial redox state plays a central role in the link between mitochondrial overloading and insulin resistance. However, the mechanism by which the ROS induce insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells is not completely understood. We examined the association between mitochondrial function and H2O2 production in insulin resistant cells. Our hypothesis is that the low mitochondrial oxygen consumption leads to elevated ROS production by a mechanism associated with reduced PGC1α transcription and low content of phosphorylated CREB. The cells were transfected with either the encoded sequence for catalase overexpression or the specific siRNA for catalase inhibition. After transfection, myotubes were incubated with palmitic acid (500µM) and the insulin response, as well as mitochondrial function and fatty acid metabolism, was determined. The low mitochondrial oxygen consumption led to elevated ROS production by a mechanism associated with ß-oxidation of fatty acids. Rotenone was observed to reduce the ratio of ROS production. The elevated H2O2 production markedly decreased the PGC1α transcription, an effect that was accompanied by a reduced phosphorylation of Akt and CREB. The catalase transfection prevented the reduction in the phosphorylated level of Akt and upregulated the levels of phosphorylated CREB. The mitochondrial function was elevated and H2O2 production reduced, thus increasing the insulin sensitivity. The catalase overexpression improved mitochondrial respiration protecting the cells from fatty acid-induced, insulin resistance. This effect indicates that control of hydrogen peroxide production regulates the mitochondrial respiration preventing the insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells by a mechanism associated with CREB phosphorylation and ß-oxidation of fatty acids.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Numerous functions have been attributed to the Edinger-Westphal nucleus (EW), including those related to feeding behavior, pain control, alcohol consumption and the stress response. The EW is thought to consist of two parts: one controls accommodation, choroidal blood flow and pupillary constriction, primarily comprising cholinergic cells and projecting to the ciliary ganglion; and the other would be involved in the non-ocular functions mentioned above, comprising peptide-producing neurons and projecting to the brainstem, spinal cord and prosencephalic regions. Despite the fact that the EW is well known, its connections have yet to be described in detail. The aim of this work was to produce a map of the hypothalamic sources of afferents to the EW in the rat. We injected the retrograde tracer Fluoro-Gold into the EW, and using biotinylated dextran amine, injected into afferent sources as the anterograde control. We found retrogradely labeled cells in the following regions: subfornical organ, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, arcuate nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area, zona incerta, posterior hypothalamic nucleus, medial vestibular nucleus and cerebellar interpositus nucleus. After injecting BDA into the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area and posterior hypothalamic nucleus, we found anterogradely labeled fibers in close apposition to and potential synaptic contact with urocortin 1-immunoreactive cells in the EW. On the basis of our findings, we can suggest that the connections between the EW and the hypothalamic nuclei are involved in controlling stress responses and feeding behavior.

Assuntos

RESUMO

High concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi) resulted from the hydrolysis of ATP is strongly associated to the weakness of the contractile mechanism of muscles due to its attractiveness to calcium. The majority of the experiments to study such effect are conducted in vitro. This work investigates the effects of different concentrations of Pi, induced by the injection of potassium phosphate in live animals, in the precipitation with serum calcium and the generation of calcium phosphate composites. The experiments were also designed to find out the ideal amount of potassium phosphate to induce an effective reaction. Potassium phosphate was injected in Wistar rats, randomly separated and distributed into seven groups. Group I was injected with 0.5 ml of saline solution (control) and groups II through VII were injected with 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg of potassium phosphate, respectively. Blood collected from the inferior vena cava was submitted to biochemical analyses to measure the concentrations of calcium, Pi, urea and creatinine. The results showed that Pi, induced by the injection of potassium phosphate in live animals, causes precipitation with serum calcium, with statistically significant differences between the control and the treatment groups for doses up to 5.0 mg/kg. No statistically significant differences were found between the different doses and the concentration of urea and creatinine in the plasma. We conclude that potassium phosphate can be used to induce serum calcium precipitation in-vivo, with minor effects on other physiological variables, and the ideal dose to do so is 5.0 mg/kg.

RESUMO

A utilização de fertilizantes foliares, aplicados ao final do ciclo da cultura do arroz irrigado, pode proporcionar complementação nutricional para a planta e proteção contra patógenos com reflexos na produtividade. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a utilização de fertilizantes foliares, aplicados no estádio de emborrachamento, sobre a produtividade do arroz irrigado. O experimento foi conduzido no ano agrícola 2005/2006, em área experimental de várzea do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram compostos por 10 fertilizantes foliares, dois produtos aplicados via sementes, um fungicida e a testemunha. Os fertilizantes não influenciaram qualquer parâmetro avaliado. As condições climáticas e o manejo da adubação anterior à aplicação dos tratamentos foliares propiciaram condições favoráveis para o arroz expressar o seu potencial produtivo, em torno de 10.000kg ha-1. Neste nível de produtividade, os produtos utilizados não aumentaram a produtividade do arroz irrigado.(AU)

The use of foliar fertilizers applied to the reproductive phase of rice can improve the plant nutrition and protect the field against foliar diseases with gains in yield. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the use of the foliar fertilizers applied to the booting stage in order to verify the irrigated rice yield. The experiment was carried out in 2005/06 in a lowland area in Santa Maria-RS, Brazil. The treatments, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications, were constituted by 10 foliar fertilizers available in the market, two products applied to seeds, a fungicide, and a check treatment. The treatments presented no effects on any of the variables studied. The suitable climatic conditions and the fertilizer management carried out before the application of the foliar treatments led to the achievement of about 10,000 kg ha-1 yield, showing that there was no limitation on the level of yield obtained. The products utilized in this study did not increase the irrigated rice yield.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

A utilização de fertilizantes foliares, aplicados ao final do ciclo da cultura do arroz irrigado, pode proporcionar complementação nutricional para a planta e proteção contra patógenos com reflexos na produtividade. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a utilização de fertilizantes foliares, aplicados no estádio de emborrachamento, sobre a produtividade do arroz irrigado. O experimento foi conduzido no ano agrícola 2005/2006, em área experimental de várzea do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram compostos por 10 fertilizantes foliares, dois produtos aplicados via sementes, um fungicida e a testemunha. Os fertilizantes não influenciaram qualquer parâmetro avaliado. As condições climáticas e o manejo da adubação anterior à aplicação dos tratamentos foliares propiciaram condições favoráveis para o arroz expressar o seu potencial produtivo, em torno de 10.000kg ha-1. Neste nível de produtividade, os produtos utilizados não aumentaram a produtividade do arroz irrigado.

The use of foliar fertilizers applied to the reproductive phase of rice can improve the plant nutrition and protect the field against foliar diseases with gains in yield. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the use of the foliar fertilizers applied to the booting stage in order to verify the irrigated rice yield. The experiment was carried out in 2005/06 in a lowland area in Santa Maria-RS, Brazil. The treatments, arranged in a randomized block design with four replications, were constituted by 10 foliar fertilizers available in the market, two products applied to seeds, a fungicide, and a check treatment. The treatments presented no effects on any of the variables studied. The suitable climatic conditions and the fertilizer management carried out before the application of the foliar treatments led to the achievement of about 10,000 kg ha-1 yield, showing that there was no limitation on the level of yield obtained. The products utilized in this study did not increase the irrigated rice yield.